After deciding to forego his final UAAP season and officially include his name to the record list of rookie hopefuls, the former DLSU guard feels lucky to still have Montalbo by his side.

Melecio shared in an interview in The Prospects Pod, that the TNT defender’s given insights and advice are a huge help for his quest in the draft.

“Nag-uusap kami about sa draft, kung ano yung pinagdaanan nya during the draft, kung ano yung mindset,” Melecio told during the interview.

Despite having a good friend by his side, the Valencia City, Bukidnon native acknowledges the tougher journey he has to undergo just to secure a position in the pro league.

Montalbo who at 6 feet flat was taken by TNT in the first round of the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft, gave valuable pieces of advice to his former teammate.

“Ang sabi niya lang, relax lang ako at wag masyadong mag-overthink kasi hindi ko naman kontrolado yung mga ganyang bagay. So maging ready lang palagi kasi yun yung bagay na mas may control ka, sa sarili mo. Wag mag-overthink kasi lalo kang magpa-panic or mape-pressure ganon,” Melecio shared.

Montalbo made his PBA debut inside the Clark bubble, providing a pesky defense that was worth more than his 1.3-point and the 1.0-rebound average for the Tropang Giga in the 2020 Philippine Cup.

For sure, Melecio is no exception to the nerve-wracking experience feeling of any rookie hopeful in the nearing draft season. But like what he learned from his pal and former teammate, it’s all a matter of handling your nerves.

Montalbo is hoping that Melecio possesses nerves of steel too as he takes on this new chapter of his basketball career.

“Wag mag-overthink kasi lalo kang magpa-panic or ma-pressure. Ganoon lang ang advice niya,” he relayed in the interview.

“Sa PBA, iba na eh,” he said. “So kailangan mas matatag ka sa defense. Kung kailangan naman maka-score, nandyan naman ako palagi kung kailangan. Nung last season ko sa UAAP, medyo kumalma na yung game ko and I believe I had better decision making. So nakatulong yung last playing year ko para sa akin.”